Abstract

[Extract] "Travel-related risk can be defined as the threat of an adverse event affecting a person's health whilst traveling, which interferes with the trip or necessitates the use of health services."[1]

International travel can expose travelers to various risks to health, which depend on many factors including the destination and the person. What is certain is that there is no shortage of people traveling. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that there was a 4% increase in international tourist arrivals in 2011 to 982 million and that the 1 billion estimated international tourist arrivals was expected to be exceeded in 2012.[2] Travel for leisure, recreation, and holidays makes up 51% of inbound tourism with 27% traveling for visiting friends and relatives, health, religion, and related purposes and 15% traveling for business and professional reasons.[2] Just over half of travelers travel by air (51%) with the remainder traveling by road (41%), rail (6%), and sea (2%).[2] Up to 75% of travelers to the tropics and sub-tropics report some kind of health impairment or use of medication, even if minor.[3] Mortality among travelers depends on the destination, but is uncommon. Among Swiss travelers, the mortality rate of travelers going to developing countries is about 0.8 to 1.5 per 100,000 per month.[3]